Taylor Swift takes on many roles—superstar, billionaire, and businesswoman. She is also a —an older sister to her younger brother , an actor and producer. Her affection for her younger brother is evident. In her 2008 track “The Best Day,” she sings, “God smiles on my little brother inside out/ He’s better than I am.” On her latest album, , Swift revisits this theme with the track “Eldest Daughter,” but this time her perspective is notably darker. She laments, “Every eldest daughter was the first lamb to the slaughter,” and “Every youngest child felt they were raised up in the wild.”
Despite its focus on children and siblings, “Eldest Daughter” —who is himself a youngest child. The song’s most upbeat section features lyrics: “Ferris wheel, kisses, and lilacs/ And things I said were dumb/ ’Cause I never thought I’d find that beautiful, beautiful life that/ Shimmers the innocent light back/ Like when we were young.”
Nevertheless, the motifs of home, siblings, and family are strongly present. So, what was it like growing up with Swift as an older sister? This is challenging to ascertain without being part of the family. However, a significant body of research exists concerning , gender roles, and sibling interactions generally. Here’s what , drawing from my book :
High achievers
Firstborn children, overall, tend to be high achievers—a description that certainly applies to Swift. Older children are disproportionately found in Ivy League institutions; one study indicated that 66% of students at these elite universities were the eldest in their families. Forty-three percent of CEOs are first-borns, compared to 33% for middle-borns and 23% for last-borns. Similarly, a majority—42%—of members of Congress are first-borns.
High intelligence
Firstborns also possess an intelligence advantage. While it’s impossible to know who is the most intellectually gifted among the Swift siblings, a Norwegian study revealed that the oldest child typically has an IQ averaging three points higher than the second oldest, with the second child, in turn, being one point smarter than the third. This difference may seem minor, but researchers note that just 2.3 IQ points correspond to a 15-point increase in SAT scores. For those applying to institutions like Caltech or MIT, which candidate would be more appealing—the one with a 690 math score or the one with a 705?
Health outcomes
Health is another factor. Studies conducted in the Philippines demonstrate that younger siblings are often shorter and lighter than their older counterparts—a potential consequence of better nutrition for older siblings in regions where food scarcity is an issue. Surveys also indicate that younger siblings are less likely to be vaccinated than older ones. Children with at least two older siblings are 50% more prone to being admitted to an emergency room for asthma-related breathing difficulties—possibly due to greater exposure to pathogens introduced into the home by older siblings.
Family relationships
Firstborns, particularly , are more inclined to be what researchers term “kin-keepers.” These individuals are typically responsible for maintaining family albums and scrapbooks, remembering to organize anniversary celebrations for parents, and expressing the most interest in joining the family business. In many families, younger siblings often become rebels, deviating from these established roles to pursue careers as artists, actors, or—surprisingly often—comedians or satirists. Voltaire, Jonathan Swift, and Mark Twain were all the youngest in large families. Taylor and Austin Swift, however, defy this pattern, with both the oldest and youngest pursuing performing arts.
Parental favorites
Taylor is a globally beloved figure, and if she aligns with other first-borns, she was likely also a family favorite. Though parents adamantly deny having a preferred child, what they might share privately differs from what they disclose to scientists. In one study led by sociologist Katherine Conger at the University of California, Davis, a substantial 65% of mothers and 70% of fathers admitted to having a favorite child. In most instances, it was the oldest child who received this distinction.
“Eldest daughter syndrome”
Some family psychologists discuss a phenomenon referred to as “.” According to this theory, first-born girls experience pressure to act as a for their younger brothers and sisters—managing their siblings and ensuring household order. This can lead to heightened stress, perfectionist tendencies, and feelings of inadequacy when other siblings inevitably misbehave. As eldest daughters mature, they may encounter challenges in forming adult relationships, expressing themselves effectively, and might harbor sentiments that their childhood was taken from them.
Despite Taylor’s immense fame, the Swift siblings largely mirror other sibling pairs—shared family members and former housemates who, as Taylor’s songs imply, will maintain profound and intricate bonds throughout their lives.
